Clamp



Dec. 11, 1934. J. QQLEMAN 1,983,933

CLAMP Filed Nov. 18, 1931 Z r o s I INVENTOR. I O I: g l JM/IEJ rcvzamw d BY M Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLAMP Application November 18, 1931, Serial No. 575,698

3- Claims.

My invention relates to a clamp, and particularly to a clamp for use in gripping and hauling sheet material such as the long and heavy webs of material handled in the manufacture of floor coverings.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a clamp which takes and maintains a secure grip on the sheet material'heing handled.

Another object of my invention is to provide a clamp of simple and rugged construction which is capable of withstanding the abuses to which such a device is normally subjected in hauling the heavy and cumbersome webs of material.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a clamp of the character described in which the overall thickness of the clamp structure is reduced to a minimum, so that the clamp will pass readily through the shallow racks in which the webs of material are usually held.

A further object of my invention includes the provision of a clamp which will not mar the surface of a freshly coated web of material.

My invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a clamp structure embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the clamp, taken in a plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of jaw for the clamp of my invention.

Figures 4 and 5 are vertical sectional views showing variant forms of the jaw construction.

In terms of broad inclusion, the clamp embodying my invention comprises a pair of pivotally connected jaw plates. An arm is pivotally mounted on one of the plates and is adapted for movement into clamping engagement with the other plate for holding the jaw plates together. Means are also provided for enhancing the grip of the clamping jaws on the sheet of material. The jaw plates preferably have a length substantially equal to the width of material being gripped, and the plates are preferably relatively thin, with the clamping arms arranged to lie flatly adjacent the plates, so that the overall thickness of the clamp structure is reduced to a minimum. In a modifled form of the clamp embodying my invention means are provided on the upper jaw plate for holding the same out of engagement with a freshly applied coating on the upper side of the web so that the clamp will not mar the surface of the material.

In greater detail, and referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the clamp embodying my invention comprises a pair of pivotally connected jaw plates 2 and 3. The lower plate 2 is preferably of wood, and has a shallow groove 4.- formed in its upper surface extending longitudinally of the plate and adjacent the forward edge thereof. The upper jaw plate 3 overlies the lower plate for substantially its entire length and is preferably of metal having a downturned forward edge 5 adapted to project into the groove 4 in the closed position of the jaw plates. The upper plate 3 is narrower than the lower plate and is pivotally mounted on the lower plate by means of suitable hinges 6.

As best shown in Figure 1, a plurality of arms 7 are provided adjacent the rear edge of the upper plate 3, and are pivotally mounted on the lower plate Zby suitable means, such as the bolt 8, a washer 9 being interposed between each arm and the lower plate for spacing the arms so that they will move into sliding engagement with the top surface of the upper jaw plate 3. The arms 7 are normally positioned angularly of the plate,

with their forward ends 11 bevelled. The spaca ing of the arms from the lower plate by the washers 9 is such to place the lower faces of the arms 7 in the plane defined by the upper surface of the upper plate 3 in its closed position. Note Figure 2. By this arrangement, when a strip of material is being gripped by the jaws of the clamp, the arms 7 will operate to clamp the jaws together when the former are rotated into engagement with the upper plate.

Means are provided for connecting the arms 7 for movement together. For this purpose a channel bar 12 is connected across the outer ends of the arms 7, the bolts 13 being provided to pivotally connect these elements together. ()ne of the arms 7 is provided with an angularly disposed extension 14 to form a handle. In operation, a lever, such as a section of pipe, is engaged with the handle portion 14 and used to rotate the arms 7 into clamping engagement with the upper jaw plate 3. With the edge of the sheet material to be gripped interposed between the jaw plates, the clamping action of the arms 7 operates to press the sheet into the groove 4, thus effecting a secure grip on the sheet.

The web of sheet material may be hauled into a drying rack, or any other desired position, by means of a suitable cable fastened to an eye 16 forming part of a bridle comprising the flexible straps 17 suitably connected between the ends of the lower jaw plate 2 and the eye 16. After the sheet has been hauled into position the clamp may readily be released by rotating the bars 7 back into their normal positions, whereupon the upper plate 3 is free to move upwardly on its hinges to release the sheet.

The jaw plates 2 and 3 preferably have a length substantially equal to the width of material being hauled, so that the clamp grips along the entire forward edge of the sheet. As best shown in Figure 2, the jaw plates are relatively thin, and the clamping devices including the cross bar 12 and arms '7 are arranged to lie flatly adjacent the plates, so that the overall thickness of the clamp structure is reduced to a minimum. This is important in hauling printed floor coverings into their drying racks, because the racks on which such webs are usually held are built very shallow to conserve space.

Figure 3 shows a modified form of jaw construction, in which a plate 18 having a roughened or knurled surface is secured to the clamping surface of the lower jaw plate 2 by suitable means, such as the screws 19. The upper jaw plate 3 in this case is formed without the downturned forward edge, the knurled surface of the friction plate 18 being sufiicient to insure a firm grip with the sheet being handled.

Figure 4 shows a variant form of jaw construction, in which the friction plate 18 is replaced by a plurality of pointed pins 21 having their shanks embedded in the lower plate 2 and positioned with their pointed ends projecting above the gripping surface of the lower plate. This construction provides a secure grip with a sheet 22.

Figure 5 shows another variant form of jaw construction, particularly adapted for hauling a web 23 of floor covering having a freshly applied coating 24 on the upper surface thereof. In this case a plurality of studs, preferably in the nature of a round headed rivet 26, are positioned along the edge of the upper jaw plate 3. When the jaw plates are clamped together the studs penetrate the paint layer 24 and slightly embed themselves in the sheet 23; the rounded heads of the studs serving to hold the upper plate 3 out of engagement with the coating 24. This arrangement provides a clamp which takes and main.- tains a secure grip on the sheet being hauled, while at the same time prevents smearing of the freshly applied paint. When the clamp is removed from the sheet the displaced paint around each of the studs immediately flows into the space left vacant by the removed stud, and finally levels 01f so that no trace of the impression left by the studs is visible. By the use of this type of clamp the leading edge of the sheet is not marred, and the sheet requires no trimming to place it in a marketable condition.

I claim:

1. A clamp comprising a pair of pivotally connected jaw plates, a plurality of arms ivotally mounted on one of said plates and adapted for movement into clamping engagement with the other plate for holding said jaw plates together, and means connecting said arms for movement together.

2. A clamp comprising a pair of pivotally connected jaw plates, a plurality of arms pivotally mounted on one of said plates and adapted for movement into clamping engagement with the other plate for holding said jaw plates together, and a bar pivotally connecting said arms for movement together.

3. A clamp comprising a pair of pivotally connected jaw plates, one of said plates having a groove therein adjacent its forward edge and the other plate having a downturned portion along its leading edge adapted to project into the groove in the closed position of the jaw plates. and means slidably engageable with the upper surface of one .of the plates rearwardly of said leadng edges and adapted to bear down on the latter surface for clamping said jaw plates to gether.

JAMES T. COLEMAN. 

